Storm Chaser Colorado

April 20, 2005 McCook, NE to Anton, CO

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Day 1 Outlook, with rare moderate risk for CO!

Gassing up in Benkelman, NE with our new "groupies" Shawn Jacobs, Katie Burtis and Julie Treherne

Verne, Tom, and Katie checking the weather in McCook, NE

The Colorado chasers waiting in McCook, NE

Jon Merage's wx-worx radar at 8:50pm MDT

Possible funnel number 1 by Tony Laubach

Possible funnel similar to Tom's by Tony Laubach

Possible funnel near Anton, CO by Julie Treherne

Possible rain wrapped funnel by Julie Treherne

Jon's Durango diving south from Yuma, CO out of harm's way.

Possible tornado near Anton, CO north of HW36

4 frame sequence of funnel near Anton, CO by Tom Dulong

Mileage: 650

Chasers: Verne Carlson, Tony Laubach, Jon Van de Grift, Tom Dulong, Jon Merage, Sean Mullen, Shawn Jacobs, Katie Burtis, Julie Treherne

All of us met up in Brighton, CO and headed up I-76 and then out east to McCook, NE.  Along the way we picked up Jon and Sean and also a group of three students from UNC, Shawn Jacobs, Katie Burtis, Julie Treherne.  We continued on the McCook where it became clear that the atmosphere was capped and that we would see nothing there.  On the wx-worx I could see that if we high-tailed it back to Denver we could catch a line of storms that was building near Deertrail, CO.  On the way Jon got pulled over and Tony got a great shot of me skirting around the scene.  Sorry Jon, bummer about the ticket for sure.  As it got dark we approached the line of cells near Anton, CO.  We enjoyed all four seasons as we encountered hail, winds, lightning, snow pellets and a possible funnel cloud.  All-in-all it was one the most fun chases I have been on.  It's great to meet new freinds and travel in such a large group.  Hopefully I will have some more pictures from my video soon!